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POTTSVILLE — A man from Pottsville wants to keep his Vietnamese Pot-bellied pig in the city.

Scott Horning told the Pottsville City Council on Monday he got Gracie, the pig, for his girlfriend Feb. 25 but didn’t know it was against city codes to keep her.

“They can be as small as 45 pounds. They are very clean. They don’t stink at all. They don’t sweat,” he said.

Gracie weighs no more than 10 pounds. She was born Jan. 7.

Chapter 87 of the Pottsville City Code says that keeping farm animals is prohibited. Swine, sheep, goats, cattle or fowl in the city is against the law unless such pets are permitted.

“They are small. They make good pets,” he said.

The pig gets along with his dogs, Horning said.

Horning advocated strongly on behalf of Gracie, which is the name she responded to when his children said the name. The children have bonded with the small pig since meeting her. She is staying somewhere else in the county since he learned they were prohibited from keeping her.

“I really want this pig for my children,” he said.

He said cities like York and Lancaster permit the pig. A review of York city and Lancaster online codes says the Vietnamese Pot-bellied pig is a permitted animal.

He said the pigs normally weigh between 45 and 160 pounds.

“Did you talk to any of your neighbors?” councilwoman Dorothy “Dottie” Botto said.

Horning said he didn’t but does not think they would object.

“I can tell you are very passionate,” Botto said.

She said the council appreciates Horning following the ordinance.

City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said “we have to be a little bit cautious” because of the close living proximity. He said the closeness of the residences would probably be the larger hurdle to overcoming such a change to the regulation. Still, it is not something that will be decided soon but will take some research and thought from the council. He did not advocate for or against Gracie.

City council member Joe Devine said he would like to learn more and have statements from the neighbors. He said that not all animals might be accepting of Gracie as Horning’s dogs are. He recommended contacting local SPCAs to see what their thoughts are.

Mayor James T. Muldowney said city council will have a discussion on the matter at a future meeting.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

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